Assig-nob to himself



@auch tetes getest ffice,

HENRY R. RoRRiMs, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ,AssIeNoR 'ro HIMSELr,Y

.1.5. MoRAN, AND c.. coLToN, o E SAME PLAGE.

Letters Patent No. 78,134, dated May 19, 1868.

STEAM-PIPE GOUPLING l'ORv RAILROAD-GAR HEATERS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONSEILS: y p

Be it known' that I, HENRY R. Romains, of the city and county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have` invented a new and improved Steam-Pipe Connection for Railroad-Cars and I do hereby declare that the 4following is a full', clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a. longitudinal vertical section.

Figure 2 is a. bottom view.

This invention is an improved flexible and self-adjustable joint, `for connecting the ends of the steampipes in a train of cars, so as to admit of the heating of the cars by steam or hot air from the locomotive, or from a boiler or furnace'in any part of the train.

In the drawings, A A represent the platforms or doors of tw'o adjacent cars in a train which is to be heated in the manner referred to above. B is a steam or hot-air pipe, extending vertically down through the ioor andsupported by collars b b, or other means, which will prevent-it from'slipping up and down, while leaving it` free to rotate on its vertical axis. Below the door, the pipe B turns a sharp angle towards the side of the car, forming a horizontal arm, 'B'. The lateral arm of the steam-pipe, thus formed, constitutes a bearing, upon which is hinged or pivoted a pipe, C, the end of the pipe C being attached to a short sleeve, a, which encloses and rotates' upon the arm B, forming, with the latter, a steam-tight joint. The steam or hot air passes freely, through the pipe C, into thearmB, and thence up through the pipe B. 4 The end of the pipe C that projects towards the adjacent car is expanded into a funnel-form mouth, c, to receive the end of the' pipe from the other car. This end of the pipe Goan be swung to right or left, the pipe B turning in its bearings, to accommodate itself to this motion; and it can be raised or depressed, the slceve'a rotating on the arm B', to allow of this motion.

the car, except that, instead of bending Ato the side under- Vthe door, and thus forming a horizontal arm, it enters and is rigidly soldered or otherwise attached to o. pipe, E, which extends from the point e, behind the pipe D, to the point e', nearly under the edge of` the platform. The pipe turns to the right or left on the pipe D, as a vertical pivot, inv the same way that the pipe C turns upon the pipe B. The pipe D may be so loosely hung in the oor A that the end e of the pipe E can be raised or depressed sufficiently to .accommodate itself to the motion of the cars.

The pipe E forms a sleeve, which encompasses and supports n section, F, of steampipe. Behind the pipe The other car is provided with 'a vertical pipe, D, similar to the pipe B in construction and attachment to i D, and between it and the rear end e of pipe E, is a spring-cushion, G. A screw-cap, l-I, closes that end of the pipe E, and can be opened, for adjusting or repairing. the spring. The forward end of the section projects to some distance from the ende of pipe E, and, when the cars are connected, enters the funnel-mouth of pipelC,

and forms a steam-tight tubular connection from pipo D to pipe B, by which"steam or hot air can, when the cars are coupled, pass readily from car to car. The pipe F slides longitudinally inthe sleeve E, but does not turn on its longitudinal axis. It is provided with an opening, f, in its upper wall, under the lower end of pipe D,

through whichthe steam, dto., passes into it from, the latter pipe. The opening is longr enoughto allow the pipo F to slide back-and forth, as the brakes are pnt on or t'aken oil' of the wheels, without destroying the steamconnection. The spring Gr, when the brakes are oil', and the coupling-link dra-wing the rear car, forces the pipe F out of the sleeve E, holding its outer end ivrmly in the mouth of pipe C, and, when the brakes are on,'and the buffers in' contact, the spring yields, and allows the section-pipejto`slidc into the sleeve.

The outer end of'the pipe' C supports a conical sliding cap, I, against the inner end of which a spring, M, presses, holding it withconsiderable force upon the extremity of the pipe,.as seen in iig. 1. The outer end of pipe F supports a similar cap, d',v composed of two pieces, jj, held together by hoops m mi Both caps slide airtight upon their respective pipes. When the cars are coupled, the small end of the cap J presses against the outer end of sleeve E,"or against a washer, o, the large end pressing against the large end ofthe cap I, and the two caps being held in close contact by the'operation of the springs and G. The two parts, j and j', o-tlie cap I are situated on either side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the'cap, and, when thc` cars are coupled together, each of said parts is connected to the cap I bymeans of an elastic, n.' In passing a curve, When the pipes C and E are out of' line with each other, the partsjjpmovc so as to accommodate themselves to theposition ofthe caps, and so that each part, j andy", will, all`the while, remain in close contact with the opposite cap I. If, by accident, any steam should escape around the endsot' thelpipes C and F where they connect, it will pass into the chamber or cavity P within the caps, whence it will be unable to escape. All the joints may be packed in -any suitable manner. l i

The connection thus formed will be-as perfectly steam o r air-tight as it is possihleto havejoints which-arc subjected tolso many rude shocks and movement of parts in different directions. AAll the parts will accommodate themselves to every change in the position or movement of the cars. It willbe observed that I entirely dispense with the use of rubber, leather, or other ilexible hose, and form-an entirely metallic connection, which is far more, durable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters `Patent, is-

1. The combination ofthe pipe D with the sleeve E, sliding pipe F, having the openingyi'and the spring G, substantially as and for the purpose specified. f l

2. The capI, composed of one piece, and operating in connection with the spring M and pipe C, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

'3. The cap J, composed of two parts, jj', and operating-in connection with ythe pipe F, springs n n., sleeve E, and cap I, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of thel pipes C and E and sliding section E with the spring G, when the parts are con structed to operate in the manner and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of two sliding caps I and Jwith connecting steam-pipes F, to prevent the escape of steam from the joint fcrrnedwhere th'ey connect, substantially as specied.

To the above specification of my improvement I have signed my hand, this 26th day of February, 1868.

HENRY R. ROBBINS. Witnesses CHAs. A. PETTIT, SoLoN O. KnMoN. 

